11.   Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, requested the report and will hold the first of four Senate hearings on the food-safety system this week.

12.   Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., head of the Government Affairs Committee, held the first of two hearings on electricity markets on Wednesday.

13.   The Council is slated on Friday to hold the first of two votes on inviting the state into the city.

14.   The report comes as the bipartisan commission to reform Medicare prepares to hold its first meeting Friday.

15.   The two officials held the first of three planned meetings last night.

16.   Tuesday afternoon, they held the first of what are expected to be several discussions with Daschle about organizational details.

17.   USDA scientists next week will hold the first in a series of meetings with meatpackers and others affected by the new rules.

18.   Peres wants to hold the first of three rounds of talks at the Erez crossing near the Gaza Strip, while Arafat insists the meeting take place in Cairo.

19.   Basque regional elections, the first held since armed separatists declared a cease-fire five weeks ago, opened the door wider to peace, the Spanish government said Monday.

20.   He held the first of his planned fund-raisers Sunday in Albany, N.Y.